Hickory Elementary School

Posted: March 31, 2025

Great staff. Great Teachers. Safety is top priority.

Posted: March 31, 2025

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Posted: October 19, 2024

Great school with active PTA and great communication between Admin and parents. School events and activities were fun and had a really good parent turn out. The Friday outdoor morning assemblies were open to parents to attend. The rear gate opens to Hickory Park and it's a great pick up spot, kids can play for a bit before heading home. We chose to attend Hickory over our neighborhood TUSD elementary, and overall it was a great experience, highly recommended.

Posted: October 19, 2024

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Posted: December 3, 2023

My son has been at Hickory for 2 years now and he absolutely loves it! His kindergarten teacher was amazing and he learned so much. Now, as a first grader he enjoys his class and continues to make great progress. The teachers are caring and encourage parent involvement. I find great comfort in knowing my child is safe and supported at his school and is receiving a great education. The PTA is also amazing and plan so many fun events for the kids to enjoy, we love Hickory!

Posted: December 3, 2023

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Posted: June 23, 2023

My daughter attended Hickory for 5 years and it was a great school. Teachers always showed up and did the best they could, the change of Principal this past school year improved things too. We love the atmosphere, and we are going to miss it. I am hoping my son will be able to attend this upcoming school year.

Posted: June 23, 2023

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Posted: June 23, 2023

Posted: February 10, 2023

My daughter is in 2nd grade. She adores her teacher Mrs. Barnes and so do I. All of her teachers have been wonderful. I do like the new principal as well. I have volunteered at the school a few times and it really depicts a positive atmosphere. My daughter loves school and feels safe there. She has been excelling in her learning and it shows when compared to other kids of friends and relatives in the same grade. Hickory does a great job in ensuring students meet their full potential regardless of external set backs!

Posted: February 10, 2023

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Posted: December 5, 2020

My daughter attended this school and is the best in Torrance. She loved all the teachers and the teachers really care for their students and it shows!

Posted: December 5, 2020

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Posted: May 12, 2019

Principal is a bully herself. She bullies the parents and children. Therefore, the teachers learn from her that it’s okay to pick on kids.

Posted: May 12, 2019

This school is not reputable at all. Principal doesn’t address the things that should be addressed. Teachers treat this like a day time job. No one here cares about the kids. Starting from the principal, the staff picks on the kids (and perhaps are physically aggressive too?). My child is definitely frightened by his teacher but will not tell me why. It’s like children being afraid of bullies. A child should NEVER be afraid of his teacher.

Posted: May 12, 2019

None of the so called teachers care enough about the students. They just treat it as a job and nothing more.

Posted: May 12, 2019

Kids don’t even trust the teachers enough to go to them for help. If your child experiences ANY bullying, believe that the teachers and principal will do nothing about it and even suggest your child brought it on themselves.

Posted: May 12, 2019

My child has become much more untrusting of adults after attending this school. He has mentioned he doesn’t even know why he has to do homework when his teacher doesn’t even really check. Also, that the teacher is on her phone a lot. The MOST alarming thing my child has passingly mentioned his teacher may have pushed him. When I asked for clarification so I can go talk to his teacher, he shrugged it off and said maybe she just bumped into him by accident.

Posted: May 12, 2019

Principal is very arrogant and thinks she knows everything that’s going on on school grounds. Even when confronted, she refuses to believe that there’s bullying going and suggests something must be wrong with your child and that’s why something happened.

Posted: May 12, 2019

This school doesn’t challenge the advanced kids and rather drags them down to meet everyone else.

Posted: April 11, 2019

psychological warfare mentally and physically exhausting
Damaging to students emotional and mental futures.
NOT ALL THE STUDENTS! ONLY THE ONES WHO DARE ! TO COMPLAIN

Posted: April 11, 2019

expect parents to do there job not just help do it all

Posted: April 11, 2019

scared for their jobs don't protect the kids from bulling that is rampant

Posted: April 11, 2019

depend on the child and family not school

Posted: April 11, 2019

principle is pompous arrogant,ego maniacal bully! Don't go in her office and complain of bullying . whether concerning teacher putting hands on discipline, bulling!! yes it happens at hickory.
Your children will suffer for it.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Whether the need it or not! even the A+ students , (provides better funding for the school) make the program look better

Posted: March 18, 2019

Teachers like to blame their student for their unability to keep students engaged and their classroom in order. Granted there are a lot of parents now who are quick to defend their kids but that should not be an excuse for everything.

Posted: March 18, 2019

Posted: March 18, 2019

Starting with the Principal to the teachers, they treat parents like they’re incapable of raising children and bully the students.

Posted: March 18, 2019

Wouldn’t know. Only one of my children attend.

Posted: March 18, 2019

Leadership and teachers bully the students and take advantage of the fact that kids can’t stand up for themselves.

Posted: March 18, 2019

Not a good school to send your kid unless they are 6 years old able to be an adult while they will not take responsibility for anything.

Posted: March 18, 2019

Teachers don’t seem to care enough to ensure kids get their homework or parents are made aware what should have gone home.

Posted: May 27, 2015

Worst school I have ever been exposed to and faculty that needs to be purged this school is terrible! I originally thought it was a good choice but I regret ever having the seed of a thought of having my family assist in this school!

Posted: May 27, 2015

Please don't take my word for it I challenge you to actually have a conversation with an actual teacher for longer than five minutes and you will start to notice the impatience toward ok have a good day and please go away type attitude!

Posted: May 27, 2015

The home work is given but the teachers I feel are not thermal enough in teaching curriculum to a point where the parent during home work is the actual teacher!

Posted: May 27, 2015

This faculty starting with principle on down are overbearing condescending and belittle parents and take it out on kids!

Posted: March 22, 2014

We have been in this school for three years. Great school. Very active PTA. Every teacher that both my children have had, have been approachable and involved and dedicated. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in class or school if we choose to. Teachers handle the bigger class sizes efficiently owing to their experience. Mrs. S, the principal, is always on the school grounds and willing to listen and address any concerns. GATE programs are run by an awesome volunteer group of moms. Academically, There seems to be the right kind of workload for each of my child, one is advanced in his class, and my other child fits in his age group well, so I should say differentiated education is active, Many programs, volunteer-run (either by teacher or parent)/ PTA sponsored/ or after-school programs are available in the year...like School science fair,track and field meets, bike rodeo, Jog-a-thon, Adventures in art, multi cultural week, Math Olympiad, academic penthalon preps, field trips, talent show, Choir, movie night..so the children have a choice to participate in a variety of activities if they'd want to. Overall, these have Been a good few years for my children.

Posted: September 14, 2013

You are so right, teachers deserve to know how the parents and students feel about them. My kids went there for 4 yrs. as for being over-whelmed and over crowded ,I guess so, I remember the same complaints when I was in school. And my parents said the same about school for them. Often problem is pressure from the principle. Schools all over Calif. were being scrutinized, these past couple of yrs. Like any job. If administrations goals aren't being met...they tend to blaming the staff! In turn the kids get caught in the cross fire.

Posted: September 12, 2013

Hickory is in torrance so it has a rating of being a good school. Ms Evans is a caring teacher. Ms Pendrick is great too. PTA volunteers work hard for the teachers to give them the tools and supplies for their teachers. Volunteers work great together. I don't know the principle that well. I've heard good and bad about her. Well wait and see. What I do know if you request something, you may not get it. On the other hand,..... She does seem to care!

Posted: August 3, 2013

Hickory Elementary is overall a good school. However, this dual teaching being allowed... Does this benefit the student or teacher. All who knew the previous principal. All of the comments about teachers being overworked I agree. We all work and are under paid and overworked. I hope students and parents could rate teachers performance as well one day. I must give props to teachers like Mrs P and Mrs O. There are many more great teachers at Hickkory. This school would be awesome if some Educators had cultural training and some adult people skills. Hickory Elementary is a good school it just needs a few adjustments. I can't wait for the renovation to be completed.

Posted: March 16, 2013

I use to like this school and I had no problems until recently. We moved out of the Torrance area and now my kids are on a permit and it just seems like they are getting nit picked for EVERYTHING. The 4th grade teacher my daughter has shows no emotions, it just looks like shes their for the sake of having a job and then says my daughter might have a learning disability...BS. I'm tired of the over sized class and how much they want the parents to be involved and all the PTA fundraisers they have. All the think about is raising money (not to get the students the help they need) and test score #'s. Each kid is a walking number. Very disappointed!

Posted: June 11, 2012

Hickory's principal (Mrs. S) is awesome and so is Mrs. E (kinder). We were very nervous about moving to the "big" school from preschool but after we experienced the first couple weeks, the nervousness subsided. Mrs. E is what every kinder teacher should be and she cares about her kids. She takes great pride in her classroom and it shows. Mrs S (principal) is always available to the parents and accepts walk-in parents with questions/issues, emails, phone calls, etc. She is very prompt in her responses and communicates well with her teachers. Go Hounds!

Posted: May 30, 2012

There are great teachers and excellent parent involvement. The only reason the CST scores are lower than they would, is because there are many students from other countries who do not speak English fluently and the test is in English. Hickory is still an exceptional school, though.

Posted: May 13, 2012

Great teachers...worst principal. Used to be a great school but the recent principal is ruining the school. My son is in a combo class during his final year but his class is running so behind his peers and his shy personality made him a victim to a combo class his final year. He is miserable and can't wait to start a turn a new leaf and have classes with his grades students and make new friends next year. Unfortunately, I will not be sending my last child (already had 3 kids that went to Hickory) whom were all highly academic to Hickory as long as that woman is still principal!!!

Posted: March 14, 2012

I completely disagree with the previous review. My daughter attends kindergarten at this school and we have nothing but positive things to say about Hickory. Her teacher is spectacular, and the principal goes out of her way to listen to our concerns. Our daughter has been provided the appropriate services to aide her in her first year of school. I completely agree that the classes are large, but if you do some research on the local private schools (with the exception of First Lutheran down Carson - which is okay if you are willing to spend an enormous amount of money!), there are plenty out there that have about the same class sizes! I give Hickory 5 stars!

Posted: January 16, 2012

Terrible. There teachers are overwhelmed with large classes causing them to be over worked and lacking that "love for their job" attitude. If your child has problems or needs additional help, you won't get that here. The principal is even worse...unprofessional and lacking of experience. Looking to transfer my student the first chance I get. If your a loving parent, send your child to a loving school. This one is not it.

Posted: October 25, 2011

We absolutely love Hickory. It exceeds all my expectations from a school that I have for 2 of my kids. They are exceleent academically, socially, and have lits of extracurricular activities offered everyday afterschool. We moved from a private school to this public school. and have been so impressed by the academic standards, genuine teachers, wonderful PTA, and sweet students.

Posted: November 30, 2010

Due to the increased class sizes, teachers are completely overworked. Academically weaker children are being left behind. Detentions are being given out for the smallest infractions including because staff and teachers are too overworked to spend the two minutes to teach constructive conflict resolution. So sad to see a great school turn to this. Children of previous years were prepared for leadership. The kids that go through Hickory this year can be happy to qualify for fast food service positions if this keeps going.

Posted: November 16, 2010

For the school year of 2010/2011 the class sizes have increased to 30 from K-3 and up to 36 for 4th & 5th grades. The high test scores of Hickory Elementary school are largely due to the fact that a very high percentage of students receives after school tutoring on several afternoons a week. Most teachers are very good, but all of them are overwhelmed by the class sizes. The PTA is very active. Every month, there are at least two fundraisers that children can participate in during school hours. They can purchase photos, books, calendars, and a lot of other things. The money that is raised supports the arts program, field trips, and the purchases of equipment for the classrooms and the facility. Bullying is a very big problem at Hickory school. Recently, a survey went around asking the kids whether they got bullied and how the teachers and staff reacted to it. The school is aware and baby steps to address this are being taken.